Euro Car Park ticket in a petrol station

Ladita

I recently visited a BP petrol station to hoover the car and put air in the tyres. Both machines for those purposes were next to each other so I parked in front of both. I saw the ECP sign saying 20 mins maximum stay but thought it couldn't possibly apply to me as I was not using that space as a car park, leaving the car to go off for a fun day out shopping for example. I considered driving around the petrol station forecourt or round the block just before the 20 minutes was up and come back to carry on using the machines but dismissed this idea as absurd. Instead I carried on putting coins in (NB the machines did not tell me how much time those coin deposits bought me, another contributing factor for exceeding the 20 mins). I knew there would be camera footage of me held by the petrol station showing I was not 'parking'. I did not leave the car. However I got a Parking Charge Notice. I appealed to ECP and they rejected me, telling me to appeal to POPLA. I've looked at their appeals site and my situation is not covered. I don't have any evidence, just hope BP cameras caught me. I don't want to get to the point of CCJ/court involvement of any kind because I don't want my credit rating affected. If anyone on here can help I'll love you forever! 

KeithP

Hello and welcome to the forums.

What did the petrol station manager have to say when you complained to him/her?

Redx

CCTV won't be of any help

Frustration of contract is better , a valid customer using the facilities only , you left as soon as you were able to

Read the BPA CoP , clause 13 , grace periods , the signs are not fit for purpose either , should be longer , say 30 minutes , it's a subjective topic , some people take longer than others